Author
Topic: Best Lens for photographing children (Read 16202 times)

What is the best lens to take photos of toddlers and moving babies. With just borns it is easy - My 100MM macro works perfectly (f2.. just born don't move much and the speed of focus is fast enough.

This weekend i was taking photos of children at a birthday party (friends party and i was just a guest playing with my camera) and found that i like the separation of the 100 mm macro, but the speed of focus was not enough. I took out my 24-70 and found the focus OK but the separation wasn't there. I also felt that the 100 mm was just a tad too long for the space i had at the party.

I was first thinking 85mm F1.2, but then realized that the focus speed is too slow. So my question on what is best?

I also have a 70-200 zoom, but that just scares the kids and I can't run around the place as easily with the monster zoom

Logged

canon rumors FORUM

Perhaps the 85/1.8 or the Sigma 85/1.4? However, I've had good success with the 85L II at kids birthday parties. Shooting at f/1.4-f/1.6 is a great way to isolate one kid from the crowd and melt the rest of them into a colorful blur.

FF 5D3 is the camera. I dont want 50 mm since I want to stand a bit off and capture the kids as they are kids and not for posed shots of the kids. Even with 70 mm i was getting too much of the background which was taking it away from the kids faces. When I say too much - it is too much context, too much detail in the background (Bokeh) etc.

I am not trying for full length shots of the children with their wonderful dresses. I have another lens for it. I am trying for tight shots of their face or at most them interacting with an object or another kid.

Parents want a photo of themselves with the kids but the most memorable shots that i have taken are of kids when they are just playing. As soon as they know i am taking their photos - the childishness disappears as they are scared or they become more playful and make faces at me or just scamper away depending on the kid and my previous interaction with them. neither of these outcomes are what i am trying to capture. So i need to stand a bit away.

I tried the 100 mm macro because i did not know what would be the best distance to take these shots and it was a Lens I had.

I am taking these in parties and they normally have enough space for a 100mm also. The problem with the 100 mm length was that the folks in the room did not realize i was taking photos of kids and kept coming in between me and my subject. I guess i want to be far away to not distract the kids but close enough that the parents know what I am trying to do.

canon rumors FORUM

crasher8

When light is abundant I love the 70-200 f/4L for shooting kids outdoors. I use it between 85-135. I have no issues with the 24-70 2.8L Mk1 with regards to speed of AF but the color rendition isn't as nice as the 70-200. I love my 100 2.8 Macro for portraits and candids. Especially with film at 100 ISO. On the 5D3 it's razor sharp and speedy as well. The 85 1.8 would be a great choice but you might have some purple fringing correction in post.

This weekend i was taking photos of children at a birthday party (friends party and i was just a guest playing with my camera) and found that i like the separation of the 100 mm macro, but the speed of focus was not enough. I took out my 24-70 and found the focus OK but the separation wasn't there. I also felt that the 100 mm was just a tad too long for the space i had at the party.

Do you have the L or non L? My 100L focuses quite fast. Did you try with the focus limiter switch?

Nothing screams creepy more than some dude taking photos of kids from a block away with some huge white telephoto. 85 1.8 or 135L are good choices. They are relatively small and most importantly black so you don't stick out like a narc.

Nothing screams creepy more than some dude taking photos of kids from a block away with some huge white telephoto. 85 1.8 or 135L are good choices. They are relatively small and most importantly black so you don't stick out like a narc.

Methinks if appearances mean more than getting the great shot, you should probably just stick to your point and shoot.

When shoot my kid's parties or at friend's kid parties, they can't wait to see the shots because they know they will be great.

I would agree with several here about the 135 and 85L II. they can separate the kids from the crowd, and you having a 5D III gives you quite a range in ISO performance. AI Servo will be good though. I have lost a lot of shots of my two young boys trying to capture them in One shot mode

Myself, I don't have the 85L II (I got the Siggy 1.4 which is also great, at least until you have tried the 85L II )

crasher8

When they are your own kids, or at a location where most to everyone is comfortable with you shooting, only the paranoid will have issues. I do not give a rat's ass what people think of me and my camera, big lenses or small when I'm shooting my kids at public places. If anyone has the issues robbymack does well they haven't had the balls to approach me about it.